Report an artificial light problem

We can investigate complaints about artificial light coming from premises that could be a statutory nuisance.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows us to take action against artificial light problems that do one of the following:

• unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of your home or other premises
• injure health or be likely to injure health

How we assess an artificial light complaint

There are no set levels of artificial light which are treated as a statutory and enforceable nuisance. We decide whether complaints are a statutory nuisance by considering:

• the amount of light
• how often it happens and for how long
• the impact it has on you
• how it fits within nature and character of the local environment
• how unreasonable the activity is (for example, whether the light would affect the average person)

What happens next

When you make a complaint, we will contact the person responsible to investigate the problem. 
 
If we find that the problem is a statutory nuisance, an abatement notice can be served to the person or business responsible. Anyone who continues to break the law can be fined.